The 2020 Eisner Awards were held through a virtual ceremony on July 24th. Three manga won this year: The Way of the Househusband volume 1 won Best Humour Publication, while Cats of the Louvre and Witch Hat Atelier tied for Best U.S. Edition of International Material - Asia.
The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly known as the Eisner Awards, is an annual San Diego Comic-Con event that was founded in 1988. It awards creative achievement in comic books and is voted on by a small jury of comic book industry professionals.
The Way of the Househusband Vol. 1
Written and illustrated by Kousuke Oono, this manga follows the "Immortal Tatsu," a former legendary yakuza member best known for single-handedly defeating an entire rival gang with a lead pipe, with the yakuza being an organized crime unit. His name strikes fear in every underground member and police officer. However, he has since quit his life of violence to navigate through the mundane tasks of a stay-at-home husband. Despite leaving his former lifestyle behind, old habits die hard and he still sometimes acts the part of a vicious yakuza member, so he's easily misunderstood by the general public.
Each chapter is a short stand-alone story that follows Tatsu in his adventures as he supports his working wife, Miku. He is a serious man participating in very low-stakes situations, like taking yoga classes or trying to get the best bargains at the grocery store. Unfortunately, other members of the yakuza still want to pick a fight with Tatsu and find difficulty accepting the fact that he left his former life so suddenly. The detailed and dramatic artwork adds to the comedic tone of the manga by exaggerating events in the same way Tatsu lives them. This slice-of-life series is a humorous and light read.
Cats of the Louvre
This is a seinen story written and illustrated by Taiyou Matsumoto. Taking place at the Louvre in Paris, Monsieur Marcel has been a night time security guard for years and his family has worked at the Louvre for generations. He knows about the cats who live in the attic and only come out at night, urging a young recruit-in-training to keep their presence a secret. Marcel feeds and looks after the cats who have always inhabited the Louvre. Once left to their own devices, the story follows the mischievous white kitten, Snowbébé, as it causes drama for the other cats by not following any rules.
The story also highlights Cécile, a working tour guide at the Louvre. Switching between the cats and humans perspectives, this manga showcases a fun, whimsical story while portraying the innocent mysteries of life. Every side character has their own story which brings more depth. Cats of the Louvre has beautiful artwork throughout. It's a different concept with an amusing story that balances the cruelty of nature.
Witch Hat Atelier
This ongoing seinen fantasy series is written and illustrated by Kamome Shirahama. The coming-of-age story follows a girl named Coco, who is fascinated by magice magic but can't do it herself just yet. In this universe, anybody can do magic through illustrations, but it is not common knowledge. Eventually, Coco meets a magician named Qifrey and eavesdrops on a demonstration of magic. Trying to imitate Quifrey's way of utilizing magic, Coco performs a spell incorrectly and accidentally places her family in jeopardy.
Since Coco nor Quifrey know how to reverse the spell, Quifrey takes Coco on as an apprentice, so she can one day undo the damage that she's done. Coco is a creative and resilient witch-in-training who enters a new world on her journey to be part of something much greater than herself. The artwork is stunning, taking this imaginative story to another level with the intricate details and breathtaking imagery. This manga has a similar vibe to Kiki's Delivery Service or Mary and the Witch's Flower, so if you're a fan of either of those movies, this might be worth checking out.